Simsbury's Ice Skating Rinks — the Perfect March Activity

March is “that month of wind and taxes” said the poet Ogden Nash and it can seem like an endless waiting period for spring to finally come. But in New England we know we need to be doing something instead of just watching snow melt. That is why March is the perfect time to take the family ice skating.

Kathleen Mangiafico, a Simsbury resident, said, “There are so many reasons to get into the joys of ice skating, especially if you are done with winter but spring hasn't sprung.”

And Simsbury is unique in that there are two places to go. has a partially enclosed rink that holds public skating on Saturday nights from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. It only costs $2 for residents and $4 for non residents. There are still a few weeks left to skate there because the rink is open until March 13. Skate rentals are available for $3 per pair and no rush service skate sharpening is $4 per pair. Identification is required to skate as you must be either 16 or older, or accompanied by an adult.

Sheri Clifford, Simsbury resident and mom, said, “Kelley, my daughter, has a ball at the rink. She loves to go there and she often meets her friends and they skate together. They really like it. It is the perfect thing for her to do in the winter.”

Plus we have the with an Olympic sized rink and for only $25 a family from Simsbury can rent skates for four and hop on the ice for an hour and fifteen minutes of public skating, seven days a week. ($30 for non-residents)

“You get to have fun family time on a shoe string budget. The cold is invigorating and awakens your other senses. If your kids are a little fearful or apprehensive, it truly allows you the opportunity to practice patience, understanding and love with them. Plus there is hot cocoa. Need I say any more?” added Mangiafico, who is also a relationship expert and has her own blog.

“You get to hold hands with your loved ones. Hey, when do we do that?” she pointed out as well.

Now is a great time to ice skate because it is still cold, but people are feeling like they really need to get out and move. With all of the compacted snow in the yard, playing outside has not been much of an option.

My family and I went out recently for our first time and it was so unexpectedly fun. The kids had no idea what it felt like to be on ice skates and spent 40 minutes slipping and laughing and concentrating until they started to understand how to do it. My husband and I had fun letting them go and learn to skate in their own way, not to mention remembering how to do it ourselves. The kids got to see us struggle and stick with it and not be afraid to look ridiculous.

“I like it because it’s a fun family activity. It gets everyone active and outside in this cold weather. It’s also very convenient since we live only two minutes away,” said Diane Conroy, Simsbury resident and local real estate agent.

And it isn’t too late to take lessons either. The next seven-week session for the Learn to Skate program at the International Skating Center starts March 8. This is a program that develops basic skating skills (going forwards, backwards, proper edges, turns, basic spins and jumps), plus it helps build self confidence in skating. It is for any age beginner and if you enroll by March 5, you get nine weeks of free public skating during public skating times.    

Teresa Berry, a Simsbury resident said "I like the lessons. It is great for my family to do together." Both her 3-year-old daughter and her husband, Nathan Berry, a local dentist, are taking lessons at the International Skating Center.

Public skating in March of 2011 for the ISCC is available Mondays through Fridays from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. There will be no sessions on March 5 and 6 or March 30 through April 2. Prices are $5 for Simsbury residents ($3 to rent skates) or $25 for a Simsbury resident Family 4 pack which includes rentals. ($30 for non-residents)

For more information about both rinks:

See http://www.simsburyrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=7704 for Simsbury Farms.

See http://www.isccskate.com/learn2skate.html for Learn to Skate information at the ISCC.